Shuhan

In the next few days, Yecheng seemed to be shrouded in a thick cloud and fell into unprecedented chaos.

Shops on both sides of the street were closed and people were hiding in their homes, not daring to go out easily.

There was a sense of depression and uneasiness in the air, as if a storm was about to come.

The Zhongshan Zhen family, a once powerful family, along with thousands of its followers, were captured one by one by the ferocious Han army.

They were taken to a makeshift prison in the city, where the clanking of chains mingled with the wailing of the prisoners.

The trial process was brief and brutal. There was no lengthy debate or fair verdict, only cold judgment and hasty execution.

Within three days, everything was settled and the charges were hastily determined, as if these people's lives were nothing more than an insignificant farce.

On the day of beheading in Dongshi, the sky was still gloomy with dark clouds hanging low, as if even the heavens were mourning for this tragedy.

The cold wind blew through the empty streets, blowing up waves of dead leaves and making rustling sounds.

The East Market was crowded with people, but everyone was silent, and everyone's face was filled with fear and sympathy.

All that could be heard was the whistling sound of the blade cutting through the air, that sound was cold and sharp, like the whisper of death; and the puffing sound of blood spurting out, that sound was dull and powerful, like the end of life.

Zhen Yi, the patriarch of the Zhongshan Zhen family, stood in a corner of the execution ground, his figure looking particularly lonely.

He was wearing a somewhat worn brocade robe, his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions.

He watched his people fall one by one, feeling mixed emotions.

There is anger, resentment, grief, and self-blame.

He thought about resisting, begging for mercy, and even trying every possible means to save his family's fate.

But in the end, all of this turned into silent sighs and drifted away with the wind.

He knew that all this was caused by himself.

It was his momentary greed and ambition that pushed the Zhongshan Zhen family into an abyss of no return.

He lost the bet miserably.

Not only did he lose the future of Zhongshan Zhen family, he also lost his own life and everything he once had.

He closed his eyes, as if he could see the tribesmen who once fought alongside him, all the laughter, all the glory and splendor, now all vanished into thin air.

When the last knife fell, Zhen Yi closed his eyes.

He seemed to have traveled through time and space and returned to the most glorious moment of the Zhen family in Zhongshan.

At that time, the family was prosperous, the clan members were united, and they possessed endless wealth and power.

He also seemed to see the darkness of the future, a world without the Zhongshan Zhen family.

His heart was filled with regret and helplessness, but everything was irreversible.

The blood flowed like a river, it was so horrible.

At the execution ground, blood dyed the ground red and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.

People's faces, hands, and even their collars were covered in blood.

Zhen Yi's thoughts were racing as he recalled his life.

From the high spirits in his youth, to the power in his middle age, to the sad ending today.

He seemed to see every road he had walked, every person he had met, and every thing he had experienced.

He understood that life is like a dream and nothing is permanent.

Everything he once had has now become nothing; everything he once pursued has now become a bubble.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, blowing up the dust and fallen leaves on the ground.

Zhen Yi's body slowly fell down, and his eyes gradually became empty.

There was no more fear or sorrow in his heart, only tranquility.

He seemed to hear the sound of bells coming from afar, which was a call of transcendence and the destination of the soul.

He knew that he was about to leave this world and go to a place without conflict and pain.

Liu Chan did not even feel a ripple in his heart about this cruel decision to execute thousands of people.

His eyes were cold and firm, as if the life and death of this world were just chess pieces on his chessboard that he could manipulate at will.

The Zhongshan Zhen family, a family that once had a brief alliance with him but betrayed him at a critical moment, no longer had any value to him.

Those who are disloyal will be abandoned. This is his creed and his deep understanding of the game of power.

The demise of the Zhongshan Zhen family was like a sudden storm that swept across the entire Jizhou.

Those aristocratic families and nobles who were usually high and mighty were like lambs to be slaughtered at this moment, completely unprepared for Liu Chan's thundering methods.

When the knife flashed and heads rolled down, they suddenly woke up, but it was too late.

With his iron fist, Liu Chan not only eliminated potential threats, but also invisibly reshaped the power structure of Jizhou.

Those vacant official positions, like tempting fruits, were handed over by Liu Chan without hesitation to the elites of the Military Academy who he had personally trained.

These people are loyal and capable. Their appointment means that the Han Dynasty's control over Jizhou has reached an unprecedented level.

Inside the Chaoge Palace, the candlelight flickered, and Liu Chan's face looked particularly solemn in the light and shadow.

He stood up slowly, his eyes passing through the layers of curtains, as if he could penetrate time and space, and saw the woman who was silently enduring the huge changes in her family - Zhen Mi.

Huang Hao, the eunuch who was good at observing people's expressions, stepped forward at the right time and said softly, "Your Majesty, Concubine Zhen has not eaten for a day and a night."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan frowned slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He knew very well that Zhen Mi was not only his concubine, but also the daughter of Zhongshan Zhen family. The demise of her mother's family was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for her.

Liu Chan took his first steps, and each step seemed so heavy.

He came to Zhen Mi's bedroom, only to see that the room was dim and the candlelight was dim. Zhen Mi was sitting quietly beside the bed, and her figure looked particularly thin.

Her face was haggard, her eyes were full of fatigue and sadness, and the eyes that once sparkled with wisdom had now lost their former luster.

Liu Chan stood at the door, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt in his heart.

He knew that as an emperor, he had to make a choice, but as a man and a husband, he could not ignore the pain Zhen Mi was suffering.

"Go to her!" Liu Chan whispered, then slowly walked into the house.

He walked to Zhen Mi and sat down gently, but didn't know what to say.

There seemed to be an invisible wall between the two of them, making them feel strange and distant from each other.

Zhen Mi looked up at Liu Chan, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, including resentment, disappointment, but more of helplessness and acceptance.

She knew that as the emperor's woman, she had to endure it all, and even if she felt unwilling, she had to maintain the necessary awareness.

"Your Majesty, I..." Zhen Mi's voice was weak and trembling. She tried to speak but didn't know where to start.

Liu Chan looked at her and an inexplicable tenderness surged in his heart.

He reached out his hand and gently stroked Zhen Mi's hair, with a barely perceptible tenderness in his tone: "Mi'er, you know that the power struggle in this world has always been cruel. The Zhongshan Zhen family, they chose to betray, and they must bear the consequences. But you are still my woman, and I will not let you suffer any grievances."

When Zhen Mi heard this, her eyes turned slightly red, but she tried hard not to let the tears fall.

She understood that Liu Chan's words were both a comfort and a warning.

As the emperor's woman, she must learn to be strong and accept it all.

She lowered her head and said softly, "I understand. I will abide by the code of conduct for your majesty and share your worries." Liu Chan looked at Zhen Mi and felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart.

Zhen Mi was a smart woman and she knew how to survive in the court struggle.

He sighed softly, stood up, and said, "You should have a good rest. I will come to see you another day."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving behind only a lonely figure.

With Liu Chan's departure, Zhen Mi's bedroom returned to peace again.

She sat quietly by the bed, feeling mixed emotions.

She knew that from this moment on, she had to be stronger, for herself and her son, and also to fight for a place in this court struggle.

Although the fall of the Zhongshan Zhen family caused her to lose the support of her foreign relatives, it also made her realize more clearly that in this palace, only by relying on herself can she be invincible.

Zhen Mi's gaze fell gently on the eighth prince Liu Ji who was sleeping on the bed. His young face and pure and innocent eyes seemed to be able to wash away all the dust in the world.

A complex emotion surged in her heart, including the warmth of maternal love and deep worry about the future.

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Her fate was tied closely to that of this child. Her future and her hopes all rested on this little life.

Liu Ji, this name, is Liu Chan's expectation for her and also her hope for the future.

In the vortex of court struggles, Zhen Mi knew that she had to pave a solid path for her son.

She gently stroked Liu Ji's soft hair, with a determined light in her eyes.

She wanted her son to be the most dazzling figure in the palace. Not only should he inherit the throne, but he should also become a wise ruler, making the Han Dynasty more stable and allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment.

However, this is not an easy task.

Zhen Mi knew very well that every step in the palace was dangerous and one could be doomed if not careful.

She must be more cautious and smarter to be able to navigate this game of power and secure the best future for her son.

She had to try every possible means to improve Liu Ji's status in Liu Chan's heart, and at the same time establish his prestige among the court officials, so that he could become the crown prince that everyone expected.

Zhen Mi's thoughts were racing as she began to plan every step for the future.

I must study harder, not only to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also to understand national affairs and know how to govern the country.

Only in this way could she show her talents in front of Liu Chan and win more attention and love for her son.

At the same time, Zhen Mi also understood that she could not limit herself to fighting within the palace.

She must look at the entire Han Dynasty, understand the sufferings of the people, and care about the rise and fall of the country.

She wanted her son to become a monarch who truly cared about the people, was responsible, and capable.

Only in this way can we win the hearts of the people and consolidate our rule.

Looking at Liu Ji's sleeping face, Zhen Mi's heart was filled with strength. She knew that her future was still long and difficult.

But she was not afraid because she had a son and she had hope.

Zhen Mi gently covered Liu Ji with a quilt, then stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant starry sky.

I must work harder and be stronger to be invincible in this court struggle and to win the best future for my son.

Niu Kulu and Zhen Mi, further turned evil!
On the other side, Zhao Yun led the elite Han cavalry and galloped all the way from Chaoge to the southeast, like a sharp iron stream, breaking the silence of winter.

Along the way, the remnants of the Wei army were harvested like fallen leaves swept by the autumn wind, some were killed, some were captured, and none could escape the sharp edge of this iron cavalry.

Whenever they arrived at a city, most of them surrendered and opened the city gates to welcome the arrival of the Han army in order to avoid the ravages of war.

However, there are a few cities that stubbornly hold on, neither willing to surrender nor take the initiative to attack, as if seeking a chance to survive in this chaotic world.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun did not stay for long. He just smiled coldly and led the cavalry to bypass these isolated cities and continue their pursuit.

He had only one goal - to capture and kill Sima Yi, the commander of the Wei army who was praised by His Majesty as a man of both wisdom and courage and extraordinary ability.

The winter wind was as cold as a knife, but there was no fear or retreat on Zhao Yun's face.

He was wearing silver armor, holding a spear, and riding on a tall warhorse, like a god of war.

His eyes were firm and deep, revealing an indomitable will.

Under his leadership, the Han cavalry were all in high spirits and morale. They knew that as long as they followed Zhao Yun, nothing would be impossible.

One evening, the army took a short rest by the water. The horses lowered their heads to drink water, and the soldiers sat around the campfire, enjoying the rare tranquility.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of hurried horse hooves in the distance. A scout came riding over, covered in dust, with a look of anxiety and tension on his face.

He pulled the reins, jumped off his horse, walked quickly to Zhao Yun, knelt on one knee, and reported: "General, traces of Wei troops were found in the north of Shanyang City. Although the number is small, judging from the flags, it seems to be Sima Yi's troops."

When Zhao Yun heard this, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

He stood up, looked around, and said loudly: "Let's set off immediately. The only one who can run so far is Sima Yi with his cavalry. We have been chasing him for so long, and we must finally put an end to him."

After saying that, he jumped on his horse, swung his spear, and pointed it towards the north of Shanyang City.

Upon seeing this, the Han cavalrymen stood up, quickly packed their equipment, and followed closely on three horses, galloping towards the north of Shanyang City like an unstoppable torrent.

As night falls, the moonlight is as bright as water, and the valley north of Shanyang City is dead silent.

Sima Yi sat on a cold stone, next to a bonfire that had already gone out, with only a few wisps of smoke rising in the cold wind.

He looked haggard, his beard was unkempt, and his eyes were filled with fatigue and despair.

Next to him was a pile of horse bones that had been eaten completely. It was his last war horse, and he had to slaughter it with great pain in order to maintain its body temperature in this cold winter.

Sima Yi could hear the sound of horse hooves coming from afar, and the sound became clearer and more rapid.

He knew that it was Zhao Yun's cavalry, and they had finally caught up.

He smiled bitterly, his heart filled with helplessness and sadness.

He has run out of ammunition and food, and has no way to escape. What awaits him is capture.

However, even in such a desperate situation, Sima Yi did not give up his pride and dignity.

He slowly stood up, straightened his clothes, then sat by the campfire and continued to eat the cold horse meat.

Sima Yi's movements were leisurely, as if he was enjoying a delicious feast.

His eyes showed both helplessness towards fate and indifference towards the future.

Finally, the sound of horse hooves in the distance stopped, and a group of Han cavalry wearing silver armor appeared in his sight.

They were all in high spirits and morale, which formed a sharp contrast with Sima Yi's embarrassment.

Zhao Yun took the lead, holding a spear, staring at Sima Yi coldly.

In his eyes, there was both the joy of victory and respect for his opponent.

"Sima Yi, you finally fell into my hands." Zhao Yun's voice echoed in the valley, with a bit of pride and disdain.

Sima Yi raised his head, glanced at Zhao Yun, then slowly stood up.

There was no fear or pleading for mercy on his face, only indifference and composure.

"General Zhao, you win. But please remember that the real winner is not necessarily the one who laughs last."

After saying this, he slowly closed his eyes and waited for fate to decide.

Sima Yi was captured alive by the Han army! (End of this chapter)